PART 1

With his hands tugged in the pockets of his jeans and protected by a woollen sweater and his black leather jacket, the blond angel watched from a certain distance as a happy couple played with their children in the white blanket formed by the snow. The city park was full of people who had finally left their houses in order to enjoy the sunny, nevertheless, cold day, and for the Starks that afternoon had a greater meaning. Two months before, Edward Starks had been involved in a car accident that almost took his life. Andrew had been there, standing next to the sick father who fought to remain on Earth and next to his loved ones, and even if he had learned not to question the Father’s plan, the blond angel prayed for the man’s recovery as he understood exactly how Edward felt like.

But the family was reunited again and during the time he was in hospital, Mr Starks knew there was an angel beside him. They had the opportunity to talk and Andrew made him re-think what he had been doing with his life so far. An assignment that was meant to be his, as no other angel could have found the best words to reach the man’s heart other than Andrew. He had a family of his own – a gift that never before had been conceded to any other heavenly creature. And right at that very moment, in his human form, the angel watched Mr and Mrs Starks and their two children hoping that soon he could be reunited with his eternal valentine and his precious little angel.

Instants later, however, that thought gained form when Andrew felt a loving presence standing behind him and a slight smile formed in the corner of his lips.

“It’s been such a lovely day, isn’t it?” the Irish lilt reached his ears at the same time he turned around to see a very charming Monica gazing back at him with a bright smile. Andrew found her extremely cute wearing a dark purple woollen beret and matching woollen scarf, a beige overcoat, jeans and boots. Rubbing her gloved hands together, she spoke again. “It’s a wee bit cold, though, and I wonder where I can snuggle in order to keep warmer...”

Chuckling at her statement, the blond angel gave some steps forward until he was standing right in front of her. Then, he opened his arms, purposefully not touching her yet. “Well, then it seems you are in the right place at the right time cause there’s a vacancy here...”

Biting her lower lip, the little angel in human form threw herself in his strong arms, her smile never fading as he held her back tightly against him. “I couldn’t be more blessed!”

At first, Andrew kissed the top of her head but on the following minute, when she pulled away, he wasted no time in searching for her rosy lips, kissing them lovingly and slowly, taking his time to savour their sweetness and to rejoice as she returned that caress with the same delight, a consequence of three whole weeks of separation.

Her small hands caressed his handsome face, delicate fingers running along his strong jaw and feeling the slight beard that had been formed due to his lack of shaving for two days. His bigger hands caressed her wavy auburn strands, which cascaded over her shoulders and framed her beautiful face, and applied a little more pressure on the back of her head, so he could prolong that kiss for as much as possible.

And even when that caress had to be broken, Andrew kept on kissing her lower lip and now wrapped his arm around her waist. “I hope you’re feeling better now.”

He felt her smile against his. “I am, thank you very much, mister.”

Gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and then caressing her cheek with the back of his hand, the angel took a break to admire her lovely features.

Monica tilted her head and eyed him back with some slight concern. “You seem tired...”

“Humm... I guess it’s just because I missed you so much!” he joked, not wanting her to worry about him.

She ran her fingertip over his cheek. “How long have you been in this human form?”

“Two or three days... After my assignment regained consciousness in the hospital.”

She was going to say something else, but their gaze broke when they heard excited children’s yelling and parents’ laughter not far from there.

“They were your assignment, weren’t they?” she wanted to know, admiring the joy she could see in the family’s eyes.

Andrew turned around and for a moment looked in the same direction, without letting go of her. “The father was. And he and I spent some time talking about the joy of having a family to take care and love...”

“I have no doubt that you accomplished your mission beautifully because they are so happy that they can only have been touched by an angel like you.”

He turned back to gaze at her, aware of her admiration but not wanting to receive so much praising. “How long can you stay, angel?” Andrew wanted to know, gently caressing her cheek with the back of his hand. “I haven’t seen you in such a long time...”

Despite his permanent smile, his voice was pleading, as if somewhat he was fearing the answer.

But to his relief, his charming valentine grinned at him and slowly shrugged her small shoulders. “As a matter of fact, I have no idea...”

“What do you mean, baby?” He wanted to know, a little confused.

“Well, after I finished my assignment, I was told I could go to you.” She answered, with simplicity. And then added. “And here I am!”

Intrigued, he narrowed his eyes. “Hum... since I have my angel at my disposal apparently for the rest of the day, what about a walk in the park?” he wrapped her arm around his and kept his hand over hers.

“With a stop at the café next to the lake?”

“Anything you want!”

“You are a very kind gentleman!”

Laughing, he kissed her cheek and they started a pleasant walk along the frozen winter scenario. “Please tell me about our little angel... Was she with you?”

“Oh, she was and every time I mention her daddy, she smiles and claps her hands...”

Monica kept on telling him about their lovely baby and how she was learning new words and interacting with other people – and angels, and Andrew was enchanted and at the same time eager to be able to hold her again. They talked about their latest assignments and the joy to see hope in the eyes of those who had already given up living. For many times, the couple interrupted that conversation to exchange a small kiss or loving caresses and to observe people passing by. They were exactly talking about an old couple who were holding hands and engaged in a joyful conversation.

“We won’t get old like they are, but we’ll get to the point of having known each other for as long as they do.” Monica spoke, and then looked up at Andrew, who gave her waist a light squeeze and brought his face closer to hers.

“Yes, and I’m quite certain that I won’t love you the way I do today...” he said, kissing her shoulder and chuckling at the way she frowned at him.

“Oh, no?!” She exclaimed, with a mock upset expression as she knew he was joking.

“No, baby...” kissing her cheek, he held her tightly close to him. “...I’ll love you even more.”

Her broad smile was back on her face and she inched closer to place a tiny kiss on his lips. “Oh, Andrew... You are such a sweet angel...”

The expression on her face suddenly turned from a enamoured to a serious one. “Every day I pray for the gift I’ve been granted when the Father allowed us to be joined as soul mates in Heaven and here on Earth as well...I just wonder if someday I will be able to be as good to you as a regular wife is to her husband...”

He frowned at hearing her words. “Monica, what are you saying? You’re wonderful in everything you do, angel!”

She threw a look of resignation towards him. “Exactly, I am an angel, not a human. And a human wife seems to have the natural gift of taking care of her family the way it should be...”

Andrew knew he shouldn’t, but he found her frustration slightly funny considering that she was the most caring creature he had ever met. With tenderness, and aware that his smile was bothering her, he stroked her cheek with tenderness and gave a step closer to her. “You have the natural gift of bringing joy to my world... of making me fall in love with you over and over again every time I listen to your voice, baby...”

“Andrew...” she blushed quickly at his words.

“Please never say that you do not treat me well enough, because it will never be true...” Andrew was looking straight into her sweet eyes as she tilted her head.

“I love you so much...” she whispered, breaking their gaze to hold him tightly once again.

“My sweet angel... I love you very much too...” He kissed the top of her head. “And I think-”

He suddenly stopped talking and the urge to sneeze made him pull away from her.

“Andrew?” she was frowning again, but now with true concern as he sneezed three times in a row.

“It’s just-”

Another sneeze interrupted him once more, and when it was over the Irish angel gently lay both hands on each side of his face, fingertips caressing his skin as she made him look back at her. “You have a cold!”

“No, angel, I don’t think so, it’s... it might be the dust or something...”

But she ignored his words completely as her worried doe-like eyes scanned his handsome face. “Oh but you certainly do, Andrew! That is why you look so tired! And in this cold weather, it might get worse!”

“Monica...”

“We need to find a home so I can take of you. And fast!”

X

An unwilling Andrew watched from a rather comfortable bed as Monica brought a warm blanket from the wardrobe and carefully covered him with it.

“Here you are! Now you’ll stay warm while I prepare you some tea, okay?”

“Monica-”

“We were so blessed that I found Tess’ car key in my pocket a second after I wondered where we could head so I could take proper care of you!” she gently interrupted him, sitting next to him and looking around the cosy bedroom with a pleased smile. “This way we could come faster to our cabin. Now we have a fireplace instead of a heater. I find fireplaces much more romantic, you know.”

Hearing that comment, he made a break of their little discussion and raised his eyebrows. “Hum... I have to agree with you on that. I have... very good memories involving fireplaces!” he winked at her and chuckled at her blushing face.

And he could see that, for a few instants, Monica’s mind travelled back at some lovely moments spent at her valentine’s side. On the next moment, however, she looked back at him with a serious expression. “But now it is time to take care of your human form! I’ll make you some tea!”

“Angel, I’m not that bad...” Andrew insisted, even though his voice was already getting hoarse and he tried to ignore the slight pain in his throat.

“Earlier today I prayed for a chance to take really good care of you, like a good wife should do to her husband, and now I am being presented with a situation in which you need my intensive care and this is what I am doing, mister!”

The stern expression on her face and the determined way she spoke caused Andrew to frown both with amusement and slight annoyance. In a way, she reminded him of Tess, and this thought scared him a little. But he could not deny that she looked rather adorable as she spoke to him like she was in charge of the situation and he was entirely under her command.

And on second thoughts, it was totally true, as there wasn’t anything he would deny her.

“Are you warm enough?” Monica wanted to know, arranging the blanket around him, her sweet perfume penetrating his nostrils and making him pay attention to every little detail on her beautiful face – auburn hair cascading over her shoulders as she moved, her cheeks were now rosy as they were in front of a fireplace and her sweet doe-like eyes he would always end up lost in.

“Hum... actually, I guess I’m not... why don’t you scoot closer?”

His playful smile did not amuse her, however. “Andrew! You are supposed to be ill!”

“Exactly. I need an angel to watch over me and do everything she can so I can get better...”

Monica rose to her feet and crossed her arms in front of her chest. “Well, you have a point in there. I’ll bring your tea.”

“I guess Tess keeps the little bags in the cupboard...” he casually informed.

“Oh, no, I won’t need them. I’m making garlic and lemon tea for you.”

Andrew’s eyes grew wide at that piece of news. “What?!”

She turned around before she could see the look of sheer panic on his face.